Page 83 of One Sweet Day is Never Enough

“Stacey, you’ll find someone. And soon, I’ll bet. It just wasn’t ever going to work out for us, but I know there’s someone out there who’s perfect for you.”

“Thanks. I know. Anyway, Ronnie’s been asking me out nonstop since you left.” Stacey grinned.

“What? That snake.” Seth was actually shocked. Ronnie was another tasting-room attendant. He’d always flirted with Stacey openly, and it always got on Seth’s nerves. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Stacey laughed but didn’t answer.

Seth grinned. “All right, then.” Fair enough. “So have you gone out with him since we…?”

“Yeah.”

Seth nodded, shocked again. “Okay…” It felt strange to hear that, but it actually made all of this easier on both of them. He glanced back at the orchard.

“Your parents are really nice, by the way. I’m sorry I was so rude to them last night. I apologized to your mother this morning.” Stacey shook her head. “I feel so awful about it all. I’m sorry I ruined the party for you.”

Seth nodded. “You didn’t ruin it—not thewholething, anyway.”

Stacey laughed again then frowned.

“Don’t worry. There’s no permanent damage. I talked to the guest of honor this morning. She’s cool about it. She thought it was kind of funny.”

Stacey turned pink. “Well, that’s one way to look at it.”

“Right?”

“Anyway, Seth, I’m glad I got to see you here—see this place. It’s really beautiful. Even more beautiful than I imagined.” She glanced around at the trees and the gleaming red barn in the distance, the blue skies overhead and the endless green in every direction, despite the ailing portion of the orchard. They stopped to listen as the cicadas hummed in the early afternoon heat.

“Thanks. I’m happy here, finally. I definitely missed my life in California for a while, but I realized I really missedthislifestyle. The one I grew up with. And I can make this place—and my life—whatever I want to now. It just took me a while to see that.”

Stacey curved her lips. “I’m glad you’re making it work. I missed you back in Sonoma. I really missed you.” Her eyes grew moist and she stopped to look up at him.

Seth pulled her in for a bittersweet bear hug and held her tight as she burst into tears. “I missed you too.” He had truly felt the same loss after he’d moved back—for weeks on end. He knew the pain she felt, even though those same feelings had long since dissipated for him.

“I’m glad I got to see you here too, Stace—after all those times I said I just couldn’t picture you here. I was wrong about that—you look perfectly at home.”

“Too late now, though,” she said with an ironic smile, wiping her eyes. She started walking again.

He nodded and followed. “You’d be bored really quickly, anyway.”

“I know.” She stole a wry glance at him and he smiled.

They circled back to the barn and Seth gave her a tour of the wine-tasting room and the barrel room, which were open to the public for the afternoon. A few guests stood around, sipping and talking, enjoying the atmosphere.

Stacey took it all in. “It’s really nice.”

He was glad to see she appreciated it. “I’m going to turn it into something more. More visitors, more varieties. This is going to be an event space, too. Maybe it’ll never quite reach Henderson’s level, but still, it’ll grow.”

“I have no doubt it will.” She gazed at him for a long moment. “Good luck with your farm. I’ll be sure and tell everyone how great you’re doing here.”

“Thanks.” They headed back toward the house.

“So what are you going to do? Does that mean you’re going back to Henderson?”

“Yeah. The boss said I could come back if things didn’t work out here. I guess he knows you better than I do.”

Seth smiled.Thank goodness for small favors.

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